Angel possibilities: Who could be acquired?

Aug. 2, 2011

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Vladimir Guerrero could be traded this month. Admit it, it would be kind of fun to see him platoon at DH with Bobby Abreu, and come off the bench in late innings to bat for Jeff Mathis. (Oddly, he has had reverse platoon splits two of the past three seasons.) While they're getting Guerrero, Brian Fuentes, Chone Figgins and Juan Rivera are likely to be all too available, as well, which is why the most destructive personality trait in GMing is nostalgia. AP PHOTO. TEXT BY SAM MILLER, OCR

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Aramis Ramirez was, according to reports, a potential Angels target in July and could still be in August. A trade would vest his 2012 option, so whoever gets him would have to pay about $21 million over the next year and a half for him. He'd be a source of power in the middle of the lineup for the Angels but would be such a step down defensively that it's not clear he's more valuable than Alberto Callaspo, who edges him in Wins Above Replacement this year. AP PHOTO. TEXT BY SAM MILLER, OCR

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Jeremy Guthrie is a year away from free agency, which increases his trade value slightly. He has been almost exactly league average over the past three years, so he's not really a guy you'd want starting a postseason game. But if Joel Pineiro (6.06 ERA in his past dozen starts) doesn't get fixed, he'll either need to be replaced or he'll drag the Angels out of the race. AP PHOTO. TEXT BY SAM MILLER, OCR

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Both these guys could be moved this month, but Jason Kubel in particular seems moveable. He's a perfectly adequate hitter -- .303/.356/.454, which would be the best OPS on the Angels -- who would give the Angels a power threat against left-handed pitching and give Bourjos, Wells and Hunter all days off. He's making $5 million this year and is a free agent after this season. AP PHOTO. TEXT BY SAM MILLER, OCR

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Frank Francisco might as well represent the whole class of right-handed relievers you can't really depend on but who have high-leverage experience. There's Francisco, and Francisco Cordero, and Jason Isringhausen, and Huston Street... AP PHOTO. TEXT BY SAM MILLER, OCR

A diminuitive lefty who is locked up for three and a half more years that could be available in August? Sounds like Kazmir all over again. Except that Wandy hasn't had the huge performance drop that Kazmir had in 2009, and he's still a darned good pitcher: 8 Ks/9, nearly 3 Ks per walk, and despite some durability issues he does push up against 200 innings every year. He's signed for three years and $36 million (including club option), and that's not bad. AP PHOTO. TEXT BY SAM MILLER, OCR

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Getting Carlos Pena would be like getting Russell Branyan again and hoping this time it worked. This time it might work! Pena is better than Branyan, so he'd cost more, but he's basically a league-average hitter who can get ferociously hot and give you 10 home runs in a month. Mark Trumbo's success against righties in the past two months makes this less obvious of a fit than it did when the Angels got Branyan. AP PHOTO. TEXT BY SAM MILLER, OCR

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Since Joe Nathan returned from the DL in June, he has 11 Ks, 0 walks, a 1.35 ERA and a .465 OPS against him. His velocity is almost all the way back. The $2 million buyout on his 2012 option makes him expensive, but the Twins won't be using him in October and he might be a top-10 reliever again. AP PHOTO. TEXT BY SAM MILLER, OCR

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I honestly don't know how some of these guys got in the slideshow. Like Soriano, he'd easily clear waivers. Like Soriano, he's not a fit for the Angels (or, really, any team) unless most of the remaining money on his contract is picked up by the Astros. If he were virtually free, he'd be a fine platoon guy with Bobby Abreu. AP PHOTO. TEXT BY SAM MILLER, OCR

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Carlos Quentin is another guy who would instantly have the best OPS on the Angels if they were to get him. The White Sox could shop him this month, but he probably doesn't fit on the Angels as well as he does on other team. He's not a free agent until after 2012, but the Angels are already overwhelmed by excessive corner outfield/DH types. AP PHOTO. TEXT BY SAM MILLER, OCR

Vladimir Guerrero could be traded this month. Admit it, it would be kind of fun to see him platoon at DH with Bobby Abreu, and come off the bench in late innings to bat for Jeff Mathis. (Oddly, he has had reverse platoon splits two of the past three seasons.) While they're getting Guerrero, Brian Fuentes, Chone Figgins and Juan Rivera are likely to be all too available, as well, which is why the most destructive personality trait in GMing is nostalgia.AP PHOTO. TEXT BY SAM MILLER, OCR

As you know, baseball's trade deadline was Sunday, and the Angels didn't add squat. But, as you also know, the trade deadline isn't actually the deadline for trades. Teams can still make moves in August for players who are put through waivers.

That means the Angels can still acquire players, though the universe of available players is smaller. (They added Scott Kazmir in August 2009, for instance. Manny Ramirez was traded in August 2010. Click through the photos to see 11 who could be moved this month.

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